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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Harare Bureau

AHEAD of the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan next month, President Mnangagwa has called on all African countries to stand united in coming up with resolutions to deal with the impacts of climate change on health.

Addressing delegates at the official opening of the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Africa must be at the forefront of protecting its people, flora and fauna, while advancing its development aspirations and livelihoods.

“Our beloved continent, Africa, is enduring the worst effects of global warming. The land that nourished us for a millennium is now being ravaged by increasingly severe heat, droughts, floods, and cyclones. The impacts are profound, costing African economies between 3 and 5 percent of our GDPs. Despite being among the least responsible for emissions causing climatic disturbances, Africa bears both the brunt and cost of climate change. This coupled with illegal sanctions, particularly for Zimbabwe, is having a far-reaching implication on straining our health system,” he said.

President Mnangagwa

“As we prepare for COP29 and look ahead to COP32, Africa must once again stand united. We must advance our development agenda, framed by our aspirations and driven by the actions of our people. The outcomes of this Conference must play a crucial role in shaping Africa’s future at the intersection of climate and health.”

President Mnangagwa said climate change was not merely an environmental disaster, but a profound public health emergency, which had contributed to the re-emergence of previously under control diseases such as malaria, cholera and diarrhoeal infections.

CHAC 2024 is being hosted by the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/Aids Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and the Ministry of Health and Child Care with the aim of addressing the harmful health impacts of climate change on health and well-being in Africa.

It brings together researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders serving as a platform for sharing innovations, best practices, and solutions that enhance climate resilience in health.
It is running under the theme, “Cultivating resilience in health: towards unified equitable strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation in Africa.”

The conference is expected to come up with a commitment that will guide climate action going forward.
“Together, and in line with initiatives being made by other African countries and the developing world, we will publish the Harare Africa Health and Climate Declaration, a firm commitment to building health resilience in the face of climate change. As we move forward, we must do so with unity and solidarity. This is Africa’s moment to stand tall with a unified voice and clear, concise key messages that reflect our collective aspirations,” President Mnangagwa said.

He challenged African nations to establish climate-resilient health systems by embedding climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into national health plans and national development strategies.
This, the President said, included developing early warning systems as well as strengthening the health infrastructure workforce to ensure resilience in the face of growing climate risks.

“The decisions we make at this Conference should, thus, pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable and prosperous Africa, where no one and no place is left behind. We must build climate-resilient health systems that can adapt to and shield our people, health workforce and systems from hazards,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also emphasised the importance of research and surveillance in understanding how climate change was impacting health.

“Let us leverage public-private partnerships and global collaborations to ensure adequate financing for climate-resilient health systems. Strengthening human resources through technical training, South-South co-operation, and ongoing support for researchers is crucial. Our institutions of education are challenged to integrate climate resilience into the core of their operations, development plans and monitoring frameworks, among other programmes,” he added.

President Mnangagwa said resources for funding climate adaptation programmes remained low and called for developed nations to honour their commitment made at the COP26 to assist in “Just Transitions” that promote sustainable development, the eradication of poverty, and the creation of decent jobs.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga

Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Zanu-PF National Chairman and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri, Cabinet Ministers and senior Government officials attended yesterday’s conference.
In his address, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said climate change was the world’s biggest threat to humanity, threatening to reverse economic progress.

He reiterated Zimbabwe’s commitment to the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions for the protection of communities from climate change-related health challenges.
“The importance of nationally determined contributions cannot be overstated. They map out each nation’s unique path towards reducing emissions, and for Zimbabwe, they ensure that health, as a vital component, is firmly integrated into our climate-sustaining.

“Nationally determined contributions are more than policy tools. They are the cornerstone of our plans towards sustainable development. They ensure that health is central to our climate action,” Dr Mombeshora said.
Zimbabwe hosted the conference that was also attended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health — a global platform that brings together countries interested in integrating climate decisions into their health systems.

Dr Adelheid Onyango, WHO Africa regional office director (the Healthier Populations Cluster), said urgent action was needed to build resilience and reduce the volatility of African health systems.
“Most of our vulnerability and adaptation assessments in the region, however, are more than five years old, and they will need to be updated. The new generation of climate change is a new generation of innovation. We are excited to be able to raise funding for all these initiatives.

Dr Fortunate Machingura

“This crowdfunding initiative will cement the impact of climate change on our economy. We will be committed to fostering global climate change.
“This conference offers us the opportunity to discuss and improve knowledge from different disciplines on how to design and implement multi-sensory functions and find a quality education while really resilient,” she said.
CHAC 2024 chairperson Dr Fortunate Machingura underscored the importance of resource mobilisation to address the health challenges brought about by climate change.

She said it was unfortunate that the African continent was hardest hit by climate change, yet it had the fewest resources to cope and had received minimal support from those responsible for its growth.
“This conference signifies not just a gathering of minds, but a bold march toward knowledge, resilience and an African-free agenda. Together, we embark on this historic journey, grounded in the knowledge systems of our peoples and inspired by dynamism.

“Indeed, this assembly is a testament to Africa’s strength. Today, we stand not in desperation, but in our determination. We now rally to confront the climate crisis,” Dr Machingura said.
The conference was attended by over 400 individuals and 20 ministerial representatives, along with more than 30 high-ranking officials from African governments.

On the sidelines of the conference, Ministers of Health from the continent also attended a high-Level meeting later yesterday to come up with a unified action as they strategise on key health-related climate initiatives.

The event sought to foster dialogue on climate change and health policies across Africa, enhance collaboration between health and environmental sectors and ensure the establishment of a roadmap outlining Africa’s health and environmental priorities leading to COP29 and COP30.